Commercial radio stations have been enjoying the fruits of political adverttising over the past few weeks of the election campaign. From next Wednesday that all stops as the black out period comes into effect.

We reported earlier that the latest AirCheck™ figures showed that halfway through the 2013 Election Campaign the ALP is the top advertiser on radio. By the end of the campaign spending will be significantly increased. But along with the cash comes some compliance issues for managers to remember.

Clause 3A of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act requires that a broadcaster must not broadcast an election advertisement from the end of the Wednesday before the polling day until the close of the poll on polling day.

If you station decided to cover the campaign, did you balance the content?

Clause 3 of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act requires that if any election matter is broadcast during an election period by a broadcaster, then that broadcaster must give all parties contesting the election a reasonable opportunity to have election matter broadcast during the election period.

And did you keep all the proper records?

Subclause 4(3) of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act requires that a broadcaster must keep a record of the name, address and occupation of the person that requests the broadcast of political matter. The required period is the longer of six weeks from the date of the broadcast or until the day on which the election ends.

More information on electoral content is available from the ACMA at this link.